Charges laid over ‘hate speech’ comments against Chinese following donkey skin report

07 February 2017 - 12:53 By Ernest Mabuza
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Image: Gallo Images/Thinkstock

The Chinese Association (TCA) in Gauteng says it has laid criminal charges of crimen injuria against people who wrote comments which promoted hatred of and violence against Chinese people.

The derogatory comments followed a Carte Blanche report on animal abuse and the trade in donkey skins which aired on January 29.

The comments were posted on the Facebook pages of the Karoo Donkey Sanctuary‚ Carte Blanche and TCA following the broadcast.

One commenter described Chinese people as “the most despicable things on this planet”‚ while another suggested they should start killing their children for the cure of a hangover. Yet another suggested Chinese should be banned from the country.

  • READ MORE: Pair caught with 35 skinned donkeys face animal cruelty chargesTwo people will face charges of cruelty to animals on Monday after being caught with 35 skinned donkey carcasses near Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal.

TCA‚ formed in 1903 to protect and promote the interests of Chinese community in South Africa‚ said that‚ after following legal advice taken to protect the safety and well-being of the Chinese community‚ criminal charges had been laid against.

“TCA will also be laying a complaint of hate speech with the South African Human Rights Commission‚” the association said in a statement.

The association also said it was outraged at the cruelty and abuse uncovered by Carte Blanche.

It also condemned in the strongest possible terms all individuals involved in the ill-treatment of these donkeys and welcomed the prosecution of the perpetrators‚ whatever their nationality.

“The xenophobia directed at the Chinese community is of great concern‚ in the face of past xenophobic experiences in our country‚ directed at other minority communities‚” the association said.

- TMG Digital

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